Maryland
Between Baltimore And Annapolis Is A Friendly Maryland Village With Lovely Streets And Suburban Ease – Islands
Maryland may be one of the smallest states in the United States (ranking number 42 out of 50 for land mass size), but its diversity has actually earned it a cool nickname: “America in Miniature”. Home to the largest estuary in America (the stunning Chesapeake Bay), the Old Line State also boasts buzzing metropolises like Baltimore and historic gems like the capital city of Annapolis, as well as a wealth of suburban villages between the two.
One such place is the homey suburb of Ferndale, tucked between the state’s two largest cities and just a few miles inland from Curtis Creek. Only about 10 miles south of Baltimore, this close-knit village is praised for its friendliness and laid-back urban highlights, including shopping malls, lovely residential streets, local museums, and historic nearby landmarks. Thanks to its position, Ferndale is often picked for its suburban ease and for being cheaper and less crowded than Baltimore while still offering plenty of things to do, from sports and parks to historic forts by the bay just a short drive away.
If you are planning to make your way to Baltimore via air, Ferndale is in the perfect place to spend the night after landing at Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI). In fact, it is only about 2 miles from the airport and roughly 11 miles from Baltimore. This friendly suburb is also a great starting point for visiting Annapolis, one of America’s prettiest cities on the East Coast, located about 20 miles south of Ferndale, towards the glittering Eastern Bay.
Walk and shop among Ferndale’s charming streets
Technically a part of Glen Burnie, Ferndale may not have the world-class museums and storied streets of Annapolis or the vacation town vibes of bayside St. Michaels, but that’s because it’s more of a local’s playground than a tourist-filled village. It certainly doesn’t lack things to do and places to explore, with excellent shopping opportunities and residential streets to navigate.
There is shopping galore available in Arundel Plaza on the eastern edge of Ferndale, connected to Pleasantville Park via the walkable residential streets of Wellham Avenue and West Furnace Branch Road. The northeastern corner of Ferndale is also a great spot to stop for a bite, whether you are after hearty Italian seafood pasta at Romano’s Bar and Grill or a fiery Peruvian dinner of hot, grilled chicken at Sardi’s Pollo A La Brasa. Other local bites worth highlighting include the fresh seafood restaurant Crabtowne, with its special Oyster Fridays, and the highly rated Grill at Quarterfield Station, a no-frills diner serving American fare like burgers and stews.
Ferndale has its share of historic attractions, too. Just a stone’s throw from the airport sits the Benson-Hammond House, a fascinating 19th-century property that also operates a museum. Displaying farming equipment typical of the late 1800s, the house also presents an array of antique Victorian textiles, furniture, and dolls. Open from March to November on alternating Saturdays, entry to the Benson-Hammon House requires a $7 donation for adult non-members (and $3 for minors).
Enjoy plenty of activities with suburban ease
Unsurprisingly, many pick Ferndale for its excellent connection with both Baltimore and the surrounding Anne Arundel County. In fact, Ferndale is ideal if you want to explore the renowned historic and natural landmarks of the wider county. Highlights of these include the unmissable Fort McHenry National Monument (with its fascinating insight into the story of the national anthem), the natural oasis of Beverly Triton Natural Park, and the sandy beaches and gorgeous swimming and boating opportunities of Fort Smallwood Park.
You don’t even need to leave the suburb’s boundaries to fill your time with entertaining activities. In fact, you don’t even have to leave the airport. The Observation Gallery at the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is a small treat for aviation aficionados. Open to the public without having to go through airport security, the Observation Gallery is a great place to watch landing and departing planes from the Baltimore airport runway, or just learn more about spacecraft aviation through the NASA artifacts and rocket models housed in this tiny exhibition space. Ferndale also has a thriving community that organizes events through the Ferndale Civic Association. Highlights of the calendar include Ferndale Day in May, an Easter Fair and Egg Hunt, and Christmas activities like the annual tree-lighting.
Thanks to their proximity to the airport, Ferndale and Glen Burnie are well supplied with high-standard hotels. The Hampton Inn Baltimore and Garner Hotel Glen Burnie, both 3-star hotels, and the Extended Stay America Suites (2-star) are all located within a square mile of each other, though the 4-star Hilton Baltimore BWI Airport may be worth the price based on comparative reviews. The Maryland Transit Administration runs buses from the hotel (and airport) into and throughout Ferndale, giving you ultimate access to this hidden gem of a town.
Maryland
Maryland confirms 5 new measles cases, bringing year’s total to 9 – WTOP News
The state said the five recently traveled together to “a location in the U.S. experiencing an active measles outbreak.”
Maryland health officials confirmed five more measles cases, all in Carroll County.
“These individuals recently traveled together to a location in the U.S. experiencing an active measles outbreak,” the state Department of Health said in a release.
The agency said others may have been exposed on the afternoon of July 13 in the emergency department waiting room at Carroll Hospital Center in Westminster.
Another measles case recently prompted warnings from health officials in Maryland, Virginia and the District. On June 17, a Maryland resident traveled through Dulles International Airport and visited a D.C. urgent care clinic.
Measles is highly contagious. It can spread through the air through coughs, breathing, and sneezes. Early symptoms can include fevers of over 101 degrees, coughs, runny noses, watery eyes and face or body rashes.
It can take up to 21 days after exposure for the first symptoms to appear, and those who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles are especially vulnerable.
The five new measles cases in Maryland bring the state’s year-to-date total to nine. The state health department confirmed three cases in 2025, and one in each of the previous two years.
“All Marylanders should review potential exposure times, watch for symptoms, and confirm they are up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations,” the health department said.
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Maryland
Maryland Fall Home & Garden + Craft Show returning in October
Baltimore may be under an extreme heat alert, but residents can dream about autumn, as tickets are now on sale for the Maryland Fall Home & Garden + Craft Show returning to the Maryland State Fairgrounds in October.
This three-day celebration of home and garden takes place from Friday, Oct. 16 through Sunday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Expect hundreds of exhibitors, local makers, home improvement experts, family-friendly experiences and celebrity guests. The show offers everyone the chance to explore the very latest in home improvement, landscaping, outdoor living and decor, the chance to take part in hands-on experiences, and do some holiday shopping all under one roof.
This year’s show will have more than 300 exhibitors, including more than 100 crafters from around Maryland in the Makers Market. There will be unique exhibits, stage presentations and a special appearance by Chase Morrill, Ashley Morrill-Eldridge and Ryan Eldridge from Magnolia Network’s hit series “Maine Cabin Masters.” The three will have two Main Stage appearances, one on Friday, Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. and the second on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 12 p.m.
“As temperatures start to drop and the holiday season comes into view, the Maryland Fall Home & Garden + Craft Show is a place to gather ideas, meet local experts and get inspired before the busy season begins,” said Dave Paul, show manager, in a statement. “Whether attendees are planning a home project, looking for outdoor living ideas or getting a head start on holiday shopping, the show brings together resources and experiences for every kind of homeowner, maker and DIY enthusiast.”
In addition to the Makers Market and stars of “Maine Cabin Masters”, the Maryland Fall Home & Garden + Craft Show will have a petting zoo, a Kids Market where attendees can shop from local children, and much more.
Tickets are available online and at the door. Prices are as follows:
Online:
- Adults: $8
- Senior Citizens (60+): $6
- Children (ages 6-12): $4
- 4-Pack Online: $30 for four tickets, valid for one admission each and one day only
At the door:
- Adults: $10
- Senior Citizens (60+): $8
- Children (ages 6-12): $4
- Friday & Saturday: $4 after 4 p.m. at the door only
Special Offers:
- Active and retired military personnel, veterans, firefighters and police officers receive free admission all weekend, along with one guest, with valid ID at the box office.
- Attendees who show a CharmPass app, Light RailLink ticket or eligible transit pass at the box office receive free admission any day of the show. One admission is available per pass.
The Maryland State Fairgrounds is located at 2200 York Road in Lutherville-Timonium.
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Maryland
Maryland police arrest alleged bank robber wielding stolen cat: ‘Tried to use her as an accessory’
Law enforcement agencies are accustomed to dealing with cat burglars – but now a Maryland police department is saying it grappled with a cat-wielding bank robber.
The Prince George’s county police department said its officers arrested a man suspected of stealing a cat and then taking the animal with him to a PNC bank branch in the local community of Beltsville to rob the establishment on Monday morning.
“The cat was returned” after the suspect was arrested, the police department said in a statement to the Guardian on Tuesday. The agency said no injuries were reported, and it declined to name the suspect or release additional details, saying the case – bound for a spot in the annals of bizarre reported US crimes – remained under investigation.
Nonetheless, a social media post from rescue shelter Beltsville Community Cats provided more information.
A Beltsville Community Cats Facebook page post on Monday identified the cat at the center of the alleged botched caper as Magnolia, a three-and-a-half-month-old tuxedo kitten. The shelter recounted how the suspect first snatched Magnolia from her “adoption habitat” at Beltsville’s Pet Supplies Plus store, took her across the parking lot to a PNC branch, and “tried to use her as an accessory in [an] attempted robbery”.
“He asked the bank manager to hold the kitten while he wrote a note, then handed the note to a teller demanding all the cash,” the post continued. “Thankfully, the robbery was unsuccessful, the suspect was arrested, and Magnolia was found safe and sound in the bank manager’s office, where the two had bonded over their shared ordeal.”
Pet Supplies Plus store employees told the NBC affiliate in nearby Washington DC that Magnolia’s cat napper had come in daily for about two weeks and focused on the kitten each time.
Finally, on Monday, he managed to use a key to open a cat adoption area and whisked Magnolia away, store employees said to the outlet, WRC.
Store manager Aaron Kurkowski told WRC that Magnolia’s thief “came in and saw none of my team was nearby the front – and he just went right to her and ran right on out”.
According to WRC, Stephanie Stullich of Beltsville Community Cats then received a call from a pet store employee who alerted her to Magnolia’s plight.
That prompted Stullich to run over to the store, where she said to WRC that she “immediately saw all of these police cars and … thought, ‘Wow, that’s a heck of a response for a stolen cat’.”
“But then I realized they all were going down to the bank,” Stullich recalled to WRC. “They came back out a few minutes later and said, ‘Yes, there is a cat inside the bank.’”
Two days before her catnapping, Magnolia was the subject of a Beltsville Community Cats Facebook post inviting people to see her at Pet Supplies Plus and consider adopting her.
Magnolia as of Monday was still waiting to be adopted, Beltsville Community Cats said in its post detailing the bank robbery.
The non-profit organization offered members of the public the opportunity to apply to adopt Magnolia by emailing rescue@beltsvillecats.net.
Beltsville Community Cats’ post also joked that Magnolia’s “brief ‘life of crime’ is behind her” – except for undoubtedly “stealing” hearts, treats, toys and cuddles wherever her forever home may be.
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